At the village of Positano, nestled on the cliffside of the Amalfi coast, Italy

 "Every day look at a beautiful picture, read a beautiful poem, listen to some beautiful music, and if possible, say some reasonable thing."

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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(in Italy) The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline in southern Italy overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. It is located south of the Sorrentine Peninsula and north of the Cilentan Coast. The Amalfi Coast region is known for its rugged cliffs, jutting down into the turquoise blue, foaming waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It boasts spectacular ravines, romantic bays, and lush vegetation along its coastline. The rolling landscape offers many a vantage point to take in magnificent sea views along the coast as far as Salerno. Enchanting little towns are found along the coast, sloping down (terrace-like) towards the sea. Poets and philosophers, musicians and writers all took in the sea air along the Amalfi Coast. As early as the 18th century, German writer and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe sang its praises. Richard Wagner and John Steinbeck were also drawn by its charm. Today, the Amalfi Coast remains a magnet for creative minds.
+ The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy's most unforgettable destinations. Here, mountains plunge into the sea in a nail-biting vertical scene of precipitous crags, cliff-clinging abodes, and verdant woodland. Its string of fabled towns read like a Hollywood cast list. There's jet-set favorite Positano, a pastel-colored cascade of chic boutiques, spritz-sipping pin-ups, and sun-kissed sunbathers. Further east, the ancient town of Amalfi lures with its Arabic-Norman cathedral, while mountaintop Ravello stirs hearts with its cultured villas and Wagnerian connection. To the west lies Amalfi Coast gateway Sorrento, a handsome clifftop resort that has miraculously survived the onslaught of package tourism. Turquoise seas and cinematic piazzas aside, the region is home to some of Italy's finest hotels and restaurants. It's also one of the country's top spots for hiking, with well-marked trails providing the chance to escape the star-struck coastal crowds.

+ Stretching along the southern side of Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula, the Amalfi coast still dazzles with its mysterious grottos, craggy cliffs, and shimmering bays. Grab a seat on the sea side of a regional bus to soak up views on the fabled route from artsy Positano to Amalfi. Ravello offers some respite from the crowds, plus the stunning Villa Cimbrone, which overlooks the Bay of Salerno. The historic section of Sorrento has winding streets filled with craftspeople. (Capri is only a hydrofoil or ferry ride away.)

+ The Amalfi Coast is now one of the important tourist resorts in Italy, noted for its mild climate and splendid coastal scenery, with high precipices and a background of picturesque hillside houses. The local cultivation of lemons is known throughout Italy. The village of Positano (pictured here), is nestled on the cliffside of the Amalfi coast.